Healthcare services in Ghana’s Upper East Region face serious disruption as members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) commenced an indefinite strike on June 2. The industrial action is a response to government delays in implementing the 2024 Collective Agreement, which the union says jeopardizes both worker welfare and patient care quality.
Desmond Yaani, GRNMA’s Upper East Regional Public Relations Officer, confirmed that the strike has received full backing across all 15 districts in the region. Nurses and midwives began with symbolic protests wearing red armbands and headbands, signaling their discontent.
The union announced a phased escalation: suspension of Out-Patient Department (OPD) services from June 4 to 8, and if no resolution is reached by June 9, a complete withdrawal of healthcare services will follow.
A recent meeting with government representatives did not bring progress, leaving the association with no choice but to activate its strike plan. This development has raised alarm among health officials and communities reliant on public healthcare, especially in remote areas.
The GRNMA is urging swift government action to resolve the dispute and avert a collapse of essential health services throughout the Upper East Region and beyond.
